Storkeengen (Stork Meadow)

Recreational green-blue area to climate-proof neighbourhood

The climate adaption project in Vorup, Denmark, resolves the town's current and future climate challenges by converting the neighbouring nature area, Storkeengen (Stork Meadow), into a public nature park. The Vorup neighbourhood is a low-lying area in Randers near the river Gudenåen (the longest river in Denmark). This makes the area further vulnerable to extreme rain events and flooding from the river.

The project has received DKK 3 million from the Danish Ministry of Environment and Food, and will unite climate adaptation and recreational value in the new green-blue area. At Storkeengen, visible technical wastewater solutions are combined with recreational activities and nature dissemination, increasing the area's accessibility and bringing new nature experiences right into the heart of the town.

Storkeengen is the first step in the far-reaching urban development project, “City to the Water”.

Peter Bassø Duus

Illustrations from the project - C.F. Møller

Technical solutions on Nature’s own terms

In this visionary project, new cloudburst channelling routes collect rainwater from roofs, car parks and roads in Vorup, and lead it on to Storkeengen. Here, the water is purified in naturally designed wetlands, before being led out into the Gudenå stream. During normal rainfalls, the rain is channelled in underground pipes but during extreme rainfalls, specific storm drains come into use. A new dike between Storkeengen and the Gudenå stream ensures good purification of the rainwater and protect the low-lying parts of Vorup in the event of flooding.

Orbicon provides consultancy on the technical engineering disciplines in close collaboration with architect C.F. Møller. The technical wastewater solutions are developed to strengthen the natural qualities of the wetlands. To increase accessibility and enhance the nature experience, new pathways and activity plateaus are created, so that visitors at close hand can experience the unique flora and fauna of the area and the wetland’s changing habitat.

Storkeengen is expected to complete in 2021.

In order to get the best possible outcome and make Storkeengen attractive to the area’s residents and other visitors, the Municipality of Randers and Vandmiljø Randers invited all interested parties to participate in the decision-making process.